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Diplomacy with DPRK before military options - Portugal FM

Portugal’s foreign minister said that political and diplomatic actions had to be tried to the fullest with North Korea (DPRK), before considering any military initiative, which could have “unforeseeable consequences”.

Santos Silva, speaking by phone to Lusa from Tallin, the capital of Estonia, where he was participating in an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers, that the international community should not just limit itself to political and diplomatic measures, but that they had to be exhausted before turning to any other option.

He also said that out of all the means of pressure, economic sanctions were one of the most powerful, but diplomatic channels were equally necessary to find possible solutions.

When asked if the European ministers had discussed President Trump’s announcement that his country was considering suspending all trade with any nation that also traded with North Korea, Santos Silva said the debate had focused more on the European point of view.

“One needs to distinguish between the official US diplomatic positions from other declarations”, he stressed.

North Korea said last Sunday it had successfully tested a hydrogen bomb.

The Portuguese minister stressed China’s very relevant role because of the trade ties between the two countries since 90% of Pyongyang’s trade is with neighbouring China.

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